Kabul, Afghanistan ? Fighting between forces loyal to two pro-government warlords in western Afghanistan on Sunday left at least 12 people dead.

Hundreds of people armed with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms took part in the battle Sunday between the rival warlords’ factions in the village of Waryan in western Herat province, local chief Mirwais Payman said.

The warlords Amanullah Khan and Arbab Basir are both ethnic Pashtuns who support the U.S.-backed government, Payman said. The cause of the clash was not immediately known.

Police and Afghan army troops separated the sides, Payman said.

In other developments Sunday, NATO said its forces killed 15 suspected militants who launched an attack on an alliance convoy in the south. Also, the Afghan government and the United Nations appealed for $43 million in aid for 1.9 million people facing food shortages because of severe drought.